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playinthelivesoftheplantsthemselves?
Onesimpleclueistheirverypotency.Try
theexperimentofchewingonanoreganoleaf,
oraclove,oravanillabean.Theresultisfar
frompleasurable!Wheneatenasis,most
spicesandherbsareacrid,irritating,numbing.
Andthechemicalsresponsibleforthese
sensationsareactuallytoxic.Thepurified
essenceoforeganoandofthymecanbe
boughtfromchemicalsupplycompanies,and
comewithbrightwarninglabels:these
chemicalsdamageskinandlungs,sodon’t
touchorinhale.Thisispreciselytheprimary
functionofthesechemicals:tomakethe
plantsthatproducethemobnoxiousand
thereforeresistanttoattackbyanimalsor
microbes.Theflavorsofherbsandspicesare
defensivechemicalweaponsthatarereleased
fromplantcellswhentheplantischewedon.
Theirvolatilitygivesthemtheadvantageof
counterattackingthroughtheair,notjuston
directcontact,andofbeingawarningsignal
thatcantrainsomeanimalstobedeterredby
smellalone.
TurningWeaponsInto
Pleasures:JustAddFood
Andyethumanshavecometoprizethese
weaponsthataremeanttorepelus.What